As Labor Day approaches, organized labor and collective bargaining issues continue to make headlines across the nation.

In Michigan, for example, public school teachers are facing the first real test of the state's new right-to-work law. For the first time, teachers can now leave the Michigan Education Association union and stop paying fees under the law that took effect last year.

Michigan State University has a number of experts who can speak to union issues, including professor Dale Belman, who says the future of the American labor movement is unclear as right-to-work begins (read more here).

Contact information:

Dale Belman, professor of labor relations, is an expert on labor relations, right-to-work, the history of collective bargaining and other labor issues. Office: (517) 353-3905, cell (517) 927-9244, drdale@msu.edu

John Beck, associate professor in MSU’s School of Human Resources and Labor Relations, is an expert on collective bargaining, including automaker pacts, and other organized labor issues. Office: (517) 432-3982, cell (517) 449-2475, beckj@msu.edu